Medical device maker Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) has received additional orders from the US and Canada governments for 177 million syringes and needles to support Covid-19 vaccination efforts.
The new order for 140 million syringes and needles brings the company’s total orders from the US to 190 million devices.
Meanwhile, the new order for 37 million devices brings the total orders from Canada to 75 million.
BD Medication Delivery Solutions president Rick Byrd said: “Proactive actions taken by the US, Canada and the UK to order injection devices now will help these countries be ready to administer a vaccine when one is approved and ready.
“BD’s commitment to manufacturing hundreds of millions of needles and syringes for the global Covid-19 response reinforces the company’s dedication to helping the healthcare community control and defeat this virus.”
BD said that it would start distributing the devices by the end of this year.
Two weeks ago, BD formed a strategic partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the US to establish new manufacturing lines for injection devices.
As part of the partnership, BARDA will invest an estimated $42m into a $70m capital project to expand BD’s operations and manufacturing capacity in Nebraska within 12 months.
Earlier this month, BD received an order from the UK Government for the delivery of 65 million needles and syringes by mid-September to aid the country’s efforts for vaccination against Covid-19.
